Journalist Edward R. Murrow hosted a radio show called "This I Believe" from 1951-1955. The program featured short essays, written and read by the authors, that presented individuals' beliefs and how those beliefs shaped the lives they lived. Contributors included Eleanor Roosevelt, Jackie Robinson, Harry Truman along with scores of people who were not celebrities.In 2004, a non-profit organization revived the structure and brought the format back to the radio on NPR.
Now, in 2012, we've adapted it for the Elections course. Developing and honing a political philosophy is a key aspect of Elections 2012 and this assignment gives students the chance to reflect on their beliefs, refine them, and share them with others. Just as the producers of the original program felt that "your belief, simply and sincerely spoken, is sure to stimulate and help those who hear it," we know that our community will benefit from and be enriched by the sharing of these beliefs. We've asked students to focus on what they believe when it comes to being part of the body politic.
This I Believe
Journalist Edward R. Murrow hosted a radio show called "This I Believe" from 1951-1955. The program featured short essays, written and read by the authors, that presented individuals' beliefs and how those beliefs shaped the lives they lived. Contributors included Eleanor Roosevelt, Jackie Robinson, Harry Truman along with scores of people who were not celebrities.In 2004, a non-profit organization revived the structure and brought the format back to the radio on NPR.
Now, in 2012, we've adapted it for the Elections course. Developing and honing a political philosophy is a key aspect of Elections 2012 and this assignment gives students the chance to reflect on their beliefs, refine them, and share them with others. Just as the producers of the original program felt that "your belief, simply and sincerely spoken, is sure to stimulate and help those who hear it," we know that our community will benefit from and be enriched by the sharing of these beliefs. We've asked students to focus on what they believe when it comes to being part of the body politic.